THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA TOUR: Retired Guard Member’s Support Effort Boosts Morale of Soldiers and Families with Major Star Power

By Keith Kawasaki
Managing Editor, GX News and Lifestyle

Spirit of America Tour founder Robert Rosenthal (right) presents country singer Clint Black (left) with a commemorative Spirit of America Tour coin as a token of appreciation for Black's participation. Clint Black's show at Lackland AFB, TX in 2004 drew the Spirit of America Tour's largest audience to date with 15,000 attendees.

8/04/05 – After six years of service, 1LT Robert Rosenthal left the NY National Guard’s 101st Signal Battalion in 1966 and set his sights on Hollywood. He made a name for himself as a prominent entertainment lawyer and retired in 2000 at the age of 63. But like many Americans, after 9/11, a new chapter would be written in his life. Once again, Rosenthal would enter into the Military landscape.

“I wanted to do something for America,” says Rosenthal.

In 2002, The Robert and Nina Rosenthal Foundation (Rosenthal’s charity organization, named for he and his wife) initiated the Spirit of America Tour - a nonprofit entertainment organization that boosts morale by delivering headlining artists free of charge to perform for military personnel and their families across the nation.

“Mom, Dad, the kids, everyone’s invited,” says Rosenthal, who funds the Tour out of his own pocket. The only requirement is a military I.D. Furthermore, the Spirit of America Tour artists volunteer their time and talent. They do not receive any fee for their performances and extensive “meet and greet” time.

How does Rosenthal manage to grab top performers like Clint Black, Charlie Daniels, and Jo Dee Messina, and then convince them to participate on a 100% volunteer basis? Rosenthal recruited the help of Cathy Gurley, a member of the Academy of Country Music and formerly a member of its Board of Directors. Gurley established herself in Nashville, TN handling public relations for country music heavyweights Garth Brooks, Tanya Tucker, Tammy Wynette and more. Gurley, who also serves on the Board of Directors for the Rosenthal Foundation, is the National Liason for the Spirit of America Tour, putting Rosenthal’s foot in the door with the bulk of the Tour’s roster.

The two-person team of Rosenthal and Gurley look at which artists have gaps in their tour schedules – an extra day here or there between shows – and asks if they’d like to drop in on a military base. Once the request is out, they rely solely on the artists willingness to participate without being paid. Fortunately there’s that deep bed of patriotism that lies in the hearts of many of America’s entertainers. Many country music stars stand apart from other artists as being proactively supportive of America’s Military (exemplified by Charlie Daniels’ countless trips to the Mideast and major radio hits like Darryl Worley’s “Have You Forgotten,” Toby Keith’s “American Soldier,” and John Michael Montgomery’s “Letters from Home” - which inspired teenager Shauna Fleming’s nationally acclaimed support effort, “A Million Thanks,” garnering well over one million thank-you letters for Soldiers).

The Spirit of America Tour is by no means a purely “country” affair, though. Rosenthal has contacts of his own and is helping to change the perception of Hollywood in popular media regarding the war effort. A-list entertainers like comedians Dennis Miller and Carrot Top, the stars of TV’s “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Young and the Resless,” as well as Latin/Christian music star Jaci Velasquez have all appeared on the Tour.

Since 2002, the Spirit of America Tour has delivered almost 60 shows and Rosenthal assures this venture will only grow, living up to its bold namesake. Rosenthal recently instated a policy where the Spirit of America Tour will accept corporate donations, solely to aid in covering production costs. At this time, the Tour supplies to military bases not only the show, but a professional sound and light system, while the bases must supply a covered stage. His goal is for the Tour to be able to provide the stage for each show, thus lifting the financial burden off of the Military installations.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld wrote a personal letter to Rosenthal in 2004, declaring the Spirit of America Tour to be “a resounding success and a great morale-building effort.” The real marker of success for Rosenthal and Gurley though comes from the servicemembers:

“I commend your admirable service to our community and appreciate your unwavering support for our troops. Thanks again for your support and keeping our spirits high!” - MG Terry L. Tucker, Commanding Officer, U.S. Army Armor Center and Fort Knox, Kentucky

“You are a sterling pillar of America’s greatness, and the contribution you’re making for our sons and daughters in uniform is what our great Nation is all about – you genuinely care and that’s what makes being an American so special.” - COL Joel G. Himsi, Garrison Commander, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri

“It keeps me alive,” says the 68-year-old Rosenthal, referring to the affect the Tour is having by offering servicemembers a chance to kick back and relax from the stresses that weigh so heavy in their lives - stresses like a pending deployment or a spouse overseas whom they have not seen in over a year. This is what the Spirit of America Tour is all about – a break, a boost, and a great big “thank you” for your sacrifices.